The Casio G-Shock Rangeman Retrospective

The Casio G-Shock Rangeman Retrospective is a journey into the history of the G-Shock Rangeman, through its three iterations, and opinions on features and where its headed. I have been a huge fan of the first generation Rangeman, but over subsequent releases I can't help but think they have lost their way. Join me on this journey into the Rangeman history.
0:00 - Intro
01:24 The Riseman
02:22 The Rangeman V1
08:46 The Rangeman V2
12:59 The Rangeman V3
16:20 Wrap Up

[@Dropkick_Monger]

I bought a 9400 with the yellow accents (not the special edition) earlier this year. What I love about the first gen is the simplicity of its design. I've always preferred the simple, tough solar+multiband 6 models that don't require any bluetooth connection. I'm sure the later generations are nice, but they all seem a bit overdone. Simple, self-contained and elegant will always be my choice. I love the look and the features even though I'll never use most of them. After the 5610U, probably my favourite G-Shock out of the 8 I own. Great video. Cheers!

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Mate, I am totally with you, even though I like the ability to alter timezones on the MTGs with the app via bluetooth, and make sure I am actually getting the right timezone (when you travel in India, its tough to work out sometimes), the simple approach of changing mode to World Time, then cycling through is awesome... I never really appreciated it, until this latest trip. Thanks for the support here on my videos appreciate it.

[@Zeus-kj7nn]

Excellent take on this brand. 1st generation Rangeman is what Gshock should always be, a rugged hardass watch, not packed with superfluous features to try and please everyone. This could alienate the original fanbase. Subscribed 👍

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Cheers mate, thanks so much for the support!

[@uncles2000]

I have taken 9400 all over the world diving, hunting and fishing. It’s been exposed to freezing temperatures, as well as, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s been as deep as 165 ft. It’s been exposed to mud, dust, sand, salt, blood and various chemicals. It’s still going, with all features still functioning as new. It’s has a few deep case ‘dings’, but all and all it still looks fine. The band eventually started to wear and I switched it to a nylon/velcro brand. My most used features are, world timer, temperature, altitude, alarm, countdown timer and sunrise/sunset. My favorite automatic features are the atomic time setting and solar charging. If it eventually wears out, I will purchase another one.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

That my friend is an incredible endorsement for the G-Shock experience, especially with the Rangeman. Sounds like you have lived an incredible life! What do you do?

[@uncles2000]

@@TheGShockWatcher Still living it. People always say they are 'going to do something', most never do. Very few things in life compare to standing someplace on earth and knowing you're the only human being to ever set foot there. I'm just an average Joe who decided to do all the 'somethings' I wanted to do before the inevitable.

[@bkstarkey]

Love these watches. Wish getting the collabs and special editions wouldn’t be so hard to get.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

True, but as someone on the channel said, the search is half the fun.

[@jouwenlee7829]

To me GW9400 is the best and balanced among the different generations. If it’s not it won’t be offered by Casio with so many versions until today, people are still buying them new or used. Still retaining a reasonable resale value at used maker. Well balanced in terms of size, functions, easy to use, aesthetic, price. This is the ‘survivor’ rugged-do-all G-Shock watch I love that I keep two that exposed to sunlight charged daily and ready to go at any time. It will be almost perfect if they update it with moon/tide function, sapphire crystal glass, titanium metal, option to link with phone for setting using Bluetooth, slimmer case, larger MIP fonts. Subscribing to your channel. Love to see more quality content from you. Thank you.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Thanks so much for your support of the work I do, its a passion project. I used to think the Mudman was the best, and I still rate it highly, but the Rangeman has started to become my go to now for when I travel and out and about days.

[@jouwenlee7829]

@@TheGShockWatcher Bought the Mudman, then sold it. Now I own two discontinued Gulfman that comes with full titanium including screws and, button shafts and buckle. Well, I am still keeping my Mudmaster that was a gift for my wife until she passing it back to me - too large. 😆

[@TheGShockWatcher]

I shouldnt laugh, but I can also imagine my wife saying that a Mudmaster would be too large for her own wrists as well.

[@FiremanFrach]

Thank you for this excellent coverage of the Rangeman. I own the GW 9400 and wore it in my final year as a firefighter before I retired. Still one of my favorite G Shocks. In my humble opinion the 9400 is the only true Rangeman. If I want to use a smart watch I’ll use my first generation Garmin Instinct solar.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Mate, first off, thanks for being a fireman, I cannot imagine or show enough appreciation for the lives you saved or the innumerous times you must have put yourself at risk! I'm definitely with you on the rangeman gen 1 being the true Rangeman, it's still the one I hunt down the most on the second hand sites. If only I could secure the Hong Kong fire edition, I think that one is amazing. Appreciate your support of the video and channel!

[@FiremanFrach]

@@TheGShockWatcherI found a Hong Kong FD Rangeman on a site but I’m not allowed to share links on here.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Not sure if you can DM it to me, or put a space between the http and rest of the link here.

[@FiremanFrach]

@@TheGShockWatcher no it took it off right away. 🤬 Do you have an IG account?

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Try realhardman on IG

[@dingsifu]

Great presentation on the Rangeman! The Rangeman & Mudmaster make up the bulk of my collection, and are the G-Shocks that I wear most often. I agree with you that it’d be great if Casio focussed more on the “Old School” approach, sticking more to the search & rescue style; I have all but the French Fire Dept. versions of those Rangeman models and absolutely love them! You really should grab the “Sendai City/Kobe City” & “Hong Kong Fire Bureau” models, …you won’t be disappointed!

[@TheGShockWatcher]

That Hong Kong edition is the dream watch to find for sure, these rescue services watches really are iconic

[@rb2112]

I have had the Rangeman GW-9400 for almost 7 years. A great, basic, tough solar outdoorwatch! I waited for a new Rangeman, but the GPR-H1000 isn't IMO a Rangeman....just a sportswatch! So, I bought the Mudman GW-9500 and I can say that this is a very good successor of the Rangeman GW-9400! Better built, bigger digits, mud and dust resist, carbon core guard, etc! Great basic outdoorwatch! Good informative video!

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Thanks for the positive feedback, I agree with you, I feel the rangeman has lost it's way, the mudman is still holding true to form, I just hope they don't go the way of all the other jamming of features, I don't want to be charging watches all the time.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Thanks so much for the support, I feel the rangeman in it's latest releases has lost it's way, as you said it wants to be a sports watch, then a smart watch, it's lost focus and is trying to compete in a flooded market. I just hope the Mudman doesn't fall in to the same trap, and stays true to form.

[@rb2112]

@@TheGShockWatcher All they had to do was making a Rangeman with ABC, sunrise/sunset, moon/tidephase, stopwatch, alarm, DST, power saving mode, solar power, GPS and backtrackfunction...it would be a hit!

[@TheGShockWatcher]

It's the GPS which is the battery killer I think though.

[@josephbrowne3533]

Stumbled on this after work, good video. I love my blackout, oddly I got back into watches because of a smart watch, I bought that to see who was calling me while I was riding motorcycles, and was looking after my mother. Nothing more stressful then pulling in somewhere sketchy to answer a scam call. It was great untill an update fucked all its functions that I liked. And older gshocks are perfect, the old rangeman does everything that comes in surprisingly useful that smart watches can, without updates or nonsense, it's powered by light, and its hard as hell. The new rangeman just feels wrong somehow. Part of me likes it, but it still seems off.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Thanks for the support, really appreciate it. I also love the older model G-Shocks especially in this Rangeman series. There are some I think that improved like the higher end mudmans, but the Rangemans nailed it V1.

[@ianmaw66]

The GPR-H1000 is black (not green) or yellow. Thanks for the video. I own the black one BTW. I really like it but I would have liked it more if they had retained the navigation.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Damn, is it, everytime I saw it I thought it was a dark green. Cheers for the feedback Ian, appreciate it bud.

[@FilmingAustralia1623]

I have the GW-9400-1 and its a great watch the only issue is that you need to keep setting the features when your outside it tends to loose its information so having your phone on you with an offline barometer helps me alot when im out to set the fuctions to be more accurate i would like to try the new rangeman with gps to see if that gets more accurate readings.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

So you are saying the information you are getting on your GW-9400 keeps becoming inaccurate? Strange, I'll be honest I don't use that enough to see what you experienced. I wonder if others experienced the same?

[@FilmingAustralia1623]

@@TheGShockWatcher It's like if I go out camping the barometer and the altitude will get the wrong info it is normal for this watch but if I stay in a flat area it seems to work better but the app helps correct the info and it does a good job I think everyone will experience the same.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

I didn't think their was an app for GW-9400?

[@FilmingAustralia1623]

@@TheGShockWatcher Correct its not a Casio app it's one I found that I can use GPS on my phone to get the info to set the watch features like baro and altitude.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Thanks for letting me know bud

[@burz_uj3389]

No point in purchase new Rangeman, when Garmin Instinct 2x is better in almost every aspect for better price.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Do you have the link?

[@bkstarkey]

Their app is hot garbage and I much prefer solar and mb6……great video! Appreciate the in depth look.

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Thanks so much for the support on the video, I really appreciate it.

[@yehenala1]

Bad watch , after 6 months of normal use water was inside my rangeman

[@TheGShockWatcher]

Mate that is a total shame, and the first bad experience I have heard of. Could it have been a defect?